Mechanically operated reflux proportioner



2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 5, 1939. "r. M. GUNN MECHANICALLY OPERATED REFLUX PROPORTIONER Filed' Sept. 23, 1937 Dec. 5, 1939.

T. M. GUNN MECHANICALLY OPERATED REFLUX PROPORTIONER Filed Sept. 23, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ThomasM Gun/7.

Patented Dec. 5, 1939 MECHANICALLY OPERATED REFLUX PROPORTIONER Thomas M. Gunn, Woodbury, N. J., assignor to Socony-Vacuum Oil Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application September 23, 1937, Serial No. 165,339

3 Claims. (01. 137-166) This invention has to do with a device for dividing or proportioning a flowing stream of liquid, and while the device contemplated herein is susceptible of many uses where it is desirable to 5 proportionately divide such a stream, it has been developed and is especially adapted for use in connection with stills where a pre-determined portion of the condensate is returned to the tower or column as reflux.

As is well known to those familiar with the art, it may be desired in operating a still with a tower or packed column and condenser to draw off all of the condensate or to return a part or all of the condensate to the tower or column 15, as reflux, the proportion of the condensate returned as reflux being varied, depending upon the conditions of operation.

To accomplish this division of the stream of condensate for the purpose mentioned above it has been common practice to employ a dividing weir box in which the stream from the weir is split by a partition into two streams, one going to reflux and the other to the draw-ofi; By adjusting the partition, the proportion of liquid going to either side can be varied. A weir box of this character, however, is subject to certain inaccuracies which, particularly in small stills of laboratory and semi-plant size, may introduce errors of such magnitude as to defeat the purpose of the apparatus. For example, the stream over the weir may not be uniform due to an out of level condition or due to end contraction of the stream passing over the weir, or stream friction on the sides of the weir. When 35 the flow over the weir is small, these effects are exaggerated and capillarity creates an increasing efiect, distorting the stream.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide a device, designed to divide a flowing 40 stream into two parts, which is not subject to the inaccuracies mentioned above. It is a further object of this invention to provide a device of the class described which may be adjusted so as to vary, over'wide limits, the relative amounts 45 of the original stream going into each of the two divided portions.

The device contemplated by this invention embodies what may be termed a deflector or funnel member, adapted to be shifted so that the dis- 50 charging portion thereof may occupy two alternate positions. This deflector is associated with means for receiving the stream discharged from each of the two positions. My invention is particularly concerned with means for shifting the deflector to and from its respective positions.

The proportion of the stream directed into each division is controlled by the period over which the deflector occupies the respective positions; and by providing means for periodically shifting the deflector at pre-determined intervals, it may be seen that an accurate and constant division is made. Also by providing means for changing the relation between the periods for each position, the proportions of the stream that go to make up the two divisions can be varied over wide 10 limits.

The details in the construction of certain preferred embodiments of my invention, together with other objects attending its production, will be best understood from the following description of the accompanying drawings, which are chosen for illustrative purposes only, and in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation with parts in section showing a preferred embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is an end elevation taken in the direction of the arrow 2 of Figure 1;.

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation taken in a plane represented by the line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a detached elevation illustrating a preferred form of cam member, which may be used in a device of the type contemplated by this invention; and a Figure 5 is a sectional elevation showing another modified form of deflector.

Referring now to the drawings for a more detailed description of the invention, reference numeral ll indicates the discharging portion of a conduit carrying a stream of liquid, such as condensate to be divided. The conduit or pipe II has its outlet end H located in the upper end of a deflector, which, in this form of my invention, is in the nature of a funnel member indicated by numeral l2. The funnel member or 40,

deflector I2, is made in the nature of a pipe, the lower end of which has been flattened out to a chisel shape, as is clearly illustrated in Figures 1 and 3. The deflector I2 is shown as being enclosed within a box I3 and is supported by a shaft H, which extends through a bearing and packing gland l5 on the side of the box. The lower portion of the box I3 is divided by a partition member l6 into two chambers, I1 and II, which have outlet or discharge connections I8 and I8. The outlet connection I8 may, in the case of a still and condenser unit of the type hereinabove referred to, deliver to the distillate receiver and the connection I8 may carry reflux back to the tower or column.

As is illustrated by the two positions of the deflector member 2 in Figure 3, it will be observed that as long as the deflector is in the full line position shown, the full stream from the pipe I2 is delivered into the outlet l8, and when in the broken line position of Figure 3, the full stream is delivered into the outlet l8. By swinging the deflector member back and forth at regular intervals to these two positions, the stream may be accurately divided, and by changing the intervals during which the deflector occupies its two alternate positions, the proportionate amount of liquid going into the two outlets 8 and I8 may be varied over relatively wide limits.

One preferred form of mechanism for effecting this periodic movement of the deflector I2 is indicated generally by reference numeral 20 and is shown as embodying what I may term a driven shaft 2|, driven through a reduction gear- 22 from any suitable source of power, such as electric motor 23, which drives the reduction gear through a chain and sprocket wheel indicated at 24. The motor 23 may be an independent motor, the sole function of which is to drive the sprocket Wheel 24, or it may conveniently be a motor which also operates the reflux pump in a still unit of the type hereinabove referred to. In the latter event, it is desirable to provide some means whereby the'proportioning device may be rendered inoperative so that all of the stream can be directed into either of the outlets, l8 or l8, and for that purpose I have illustrated a spline clutch mechanism indicated'at 26, by means of which the sprocket wheel 24 can be operatively disengaged from its shaft.

The driven shaft 2| carries a disk 28, upon one face of which a cam member 29 is fixedly mounted.

The outer face of the disk 28 carries an adjustable cam member 29', such member being rotatably mounted upon a hub portion 30 of the disk and held in place thereon by means of a collar 3|.

The outer face of the disk 28, which carries the adjustable cam 29, is provided with a plurality of regularly spaced holes 32 adapted to receive the inner end of a locking pin 33, which is carried by the cam 29. The locking pin 33 is shown as extending through a small housing 35, where it is provided with a compression spring 36 bearing upon a collar or flange 31 so as to always bias the pin inwardly and hold it in one of the holes or recesses 32. The outer end of the pin 33 is provided with a cap or head 39.

The extending end of the shaft I4 is shown as being attached through a coupling 40 with a shaft l4, which in turn is connected through a sleeve coupling 4| to a shaft 42 carried in a bearing member 43, which in turn is supported by a bracket 44 mounted on top of the gear box The extending end of the shaft 42 has an arm member 45 keyed thereto. This arm member 45 has oppositely extending arm portions 45a and 451), each of which is shown as having a downwardly extending projection 46a and 46b respectively.

The outer face of the projection 46a carries a roller 'or follower 41a adapted to be engaged by the cam member 29', which is mounted on the outer face of the disk 28. The inner face of the projection 462) carries a roller or follower 41b adapted to be engaged by the cam member 29, which is mounted on the inner face of the disk 28.

The operation of the device as illustrated is as follows:

Assuming the deflector |2 to ,be in the position shown in'Figure 3 and the parts of the operating mechanism 20 in the positions shown in Figure 2, it will be seen that as the disk 28 with its cams 29 and 29' is rotated in the direction of the arrow A of Figure 2, such rotation will continue until the cam 29' on the rear face of disk 28 engages the roller 41b on the rear face of projection 46b. Such engagement will be effective to swing the arm member 45 to the broken line position shown in Figure 2, which will in turn move the deflector |2 into the broken lineposition of Figure 3. Continued rotation of the disk 28 brings the cam member 29' into engagement with the roller 41a on the front face of projection 46a and swings the arm member 45 back to the full line position shown. The relation between the periods during which the deflector occupies its two positions can be readily varied merely by adjusting the cam member 29' on the face of the disk 28. The broken line position of the cam member 29 in Figure 2 illustrates one such adjustment.

In order that the defiectormember may be held in its two positions of adjustment and not be dislodged due to the impingement of the liquid upon the wall thereof or moved because of vibration or the force of gravity I provide a compression spring 50, which is shown as being interposed between the sleeve 4| and the opposite face of the bracket 44. Due to the position of the spring 50, shaft I4 is urged in the direction of box |3 through the medium of coupling 4| which causes frictional contact between the sleeve positioned intermediate bearing 43 and arm 45 and the bearing and arm respectively.

It will be apparent that various types of shiftable deflectors may be employed, in connection with a control mechanism of the class described, for alternately directing a main stream, such as is discharged by conduit I, along the two different paths whereby it is delivered into one or the other of conduits l8 and I8.

To illustrate this I have shown in Figure 5 a modified form of deflector means which may be employed and operated by a control mechanism of the type described above, and in this figure the same reference numerals distinguished by letter 1) indicate parts corresponding to those described above. .In this form of deflector the pipe ||b is positioned so as to discha'rge directly into compartment IT?) and the deflector plate |2b carried by shaft |4b is swung from the full line position shown, where it directs the stream into compartment ||b, to the dotted line position where it clears the stream and permits it to flow directly into compartment '12.

It Will be seen from the foregoing description that I have provided a device for proportionately dividing a flowing stream of liquid, which is devoid of the inaccuracies present in the conventional weir box, and which may be adjusted with extreme accuracy to change the proportionate division of the stream. It is to be understood that while I have herein described and illustrated certain preferred embodiments of the invention and have referred to the same as being particularly applicable to use in connection with reflux stills, the invention is not limited to the precise structural details or the particular application described above, but includes within its scope whatever changes fairly come within the spirit of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a stream proportioning device, a. box having an inlet conduit extending to discharge therein, two outlets in the bottom wall thereof, a bailie dividing the lower portion thereof into two chambers each communicating with one of the outlets, a deflector mounted within said box on a shaft extending through the side wall thereof, said deflector being movable through said shaft to and fro to alternate positions to discharge substantially all of the fluid through the deflector into the selected chamber Within the box, and means for frictionally retaining said shaft against rotation including a bearing for said shaft, a sleeve keyed to said shaft on one side of said bearing, a sleeve free on said shaft on the other side of said bearing, an arm keyed to said shaft adjacent said free sleeve, said arm having extending portions thereon adapted to be engaged by cams to rock said shaft, and a spring interposed between said keyed sleeve and said bearing to frictionally retain said arm against said free sleeve and said free sleeve against said bearing to retain the shaft and deflector in an adjusted position until positively moved, said deflector having side walls defining a chamber open at its top and bottom, said side walls surrounding the end of said inlet conduit and being tapered inwardly on opposite sides of the chamher.

2. In a stream proportioning device, a box having an inlet conduit extending to discharge therein, two outlets in the bottom wall thereof, a battle dividing the lower portion thereof into two chambers each communicating with one said shaft against rotation including a bearing for said shaft, a sleeve keyed to said shaft on one side of said bearing, a sleeve free on said shaft n the other side of said bearing, an arm keyed to said shaft adjacent said free sleeve, said arm having extending portions thereon adapted to be engaged by cams to rock said shaft, and a spring interposed between said keyed sleeve and said bearing to frictionally retain said arm against said free sleeve and said free sleeve against said bearing to retain the shaft and deflector in an adjusted position until positively moved, said deflector having side walls defining a chamber open at its top and bottom said side Walls surrounding the end of said inlet conduit and being tapered inwardly on opposite sides of the chamber to define an open bottom thereof substantially greater in length than in width, the opening cooperating with the baiile within the box.

3. In a stream proportioning device having a pair of outlet means and an inlet conduit, an adjustable deflector means arranged to discharge into a selected one of said outlet means, and when in said adjusted position co-acting with said inlet conduit so that the stream discharged against the deflector will tend to shift the same from adjusted position, said deflector being supported on the end of a shaft whereby it may be swung to and fro to alternate adjusted positions, a bearing for said shaft, a sleeve keyed to said shaft on one side of said bearing, a sleeve free on said shaft on the other side of saidbearing, an arm keyed to said shaft adjacent said free sleeve, said arm having extending portions thereon adapted to be engaged by cams to rock said shaft, and a spring interposed between said keyed sleeve and said bearing to frictionally retain said arm against said free sleeve and said free sleeve against said bearing to retain the shaft and deflector in adjusted position until positively moved.

THOMAS M. GU'NN. 

